Cilic eyes redemption against Federer

This time, if there are tears, Marin Cilic hopes they will be tears of joy on Sunday night at Rod Laver Arena.

Unlike last year at the All England Club when Cilic broken down in despair mid-match as Roger Federer was pummelling the Croat in the Wimbledon final.

Six months on, Cilic has a shot at redemption when he faces Federer in the Australian Open title match at Melbourne Park.

Already guaranteed a career-high ranking of No.3 in the world behind Federer and the top-ranked Rafael Nadal after surging to his third grand slam final, Cilic craves more.

"My goal in this year is to win a grand slam. One or more would be good," the 2014 US Open champion said.

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He's certainly not lacking motivation.

Apart from his eagerness to join Federer, Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Gustavo Kuerten, Lleyton Hewitt and Marat Safin as the only men this century to win multiple majors, Cilic still stings from his Wimbledon meltdown.

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Few could have predicted - as he sobbed on tennis's most hallowed centre court, heartbroken that red-raw blisters had prevented him from challenging Federer for the sport's greatest prize - that another opportunity would come so soon.

"Tennis can be cruel sometimes," Federer said at the time.

Cilic hopes the breakdown will serve as a valuable learning experience when he chases atonement at Melbourne Park.

"In one way, I had to experience as one amazing experience in a final and one not so amazing. So I had both emotionally great and not great (experiences)," he said.

"I think it's going to help me to stay focused on what I have to do. I have to stay focused mentally and to be ready from the first point in the final.

"It's big motivation for me to play that final and obviously to win, and I'm feeling really good with my game so hopefully I can have a great match and also great energy on the court."

Unlike at Wimbledon, Cilic will be fighting fit and fully refreshed after three days off since a relatively quickfire straight-sets semi-final win over Kyle Edmund.

"I'm feeling really, really good physically, even though I had few matches that went more than three hours," he said.

"But, overall, feeling really good. I played great tournament so far with my level of tennis.

"I improved it comparing to end of the last year. I'm playing much, much more aggressive.

"I'm feeling that I am, for most of the shots, hitting them really, really good. From the return, moving, forehand, backhand, serving, I think everything is in good, solid spot."

Federer knows it, too.

Despite dominating their rivalry with eight wins from nine encounters, the defending champion saw enough in Cilic's quarter-final victory over wounded world No.1 Rafael Nadal to be wary.

"He played great against Rafa," Federer said.

"I think the belief and the way he played very positive made him win that match because he didn't look good there for a while when he was down a set and a break and everything.

"I like his attitude. He's very professional. He's a winner. You can see it on the way he behaves on the court. He's there to win and not just to be there."